Public services grind to halt in Greek general strike

Police ended up firing tear gas at a few of the protesters who began to throw petrol bombs, as three of the police were hurt in another attack and several people were arrested. It is the first Greek workers strike, as well as the first big protest against the government since September’s landslide victory in the election by the SYRIZA party.

Party lawmakers responsible for labor policy called on ordinary Greeks to protest “the neoliberal policies and the blackmail from financial and political centers within and outside Greece”.

The strike has already led to the cancellation of dozens of domestic flights, and a shutdown of public services.

Police estimates put the number of protesters in Athens at 25,000. “I don’t know if we will ever see our pensions”, said Nomikos. News websites were not being updated, while no Friday newspapers were to be printed.

“Pharmacists dynamically react to the forthcoming ministerial decision that catalyzes the pharmaceutical care in favor of economic interests at the expense of the health of the Greek people”, stated the General Assembly of the Panhellenic Pharmaceutical Association.

Talks with European Union and International Monetary Fund inspectors resumed in Athens on Wednesday as part of Greece’s first bailout review.

One Greek truck driver says that the Greek government and the creditors let the country plummet down.

The country is due a 2billion euro installment (£1.41bn), as well as 10bn euros (£7.06bn) set aside for the recapitalisation of its banks.

Although the government has met numerous conditions for the disbursement, dealing with non-performing loans and allowing the repossession of homes whose owners have fallen into mortgage arrears remain sticking points.

Government spokeswoman Olga Gerovasili denied propositions that leftist Syriza, when it absolutely was in opposition which fought against austerity, was trying to play with either side in supporting the anti-austerity strike.

“We’re implementing an arrangement which contains (bailout) measures which are unfair”, Gerovasili said.

Strikes have been a common practice in the sentiment-ridden country where strict measures have left many unemployed and the country in recession.

Tsipras came to power in January promising to stop the austerity demanded by Greece’s worldwide lenders, then accepted a third bailout’s unpopular provisions when faced with the prospect of an exit from the euro zone.

Hospitals on Thursday will operate with just emergency staff and museums and archaeological sites are closed.

Revenue at small firms, which account for most of Greek business, fell by an average 48 percent in the first two weeks of the capital controls, according to a July survey of 1,005 companies by the Small Enterprises Institute of the Hellenic Confederation of Professionals, Craftsmen and Merchants, known by its Greek acronym Gsevee.